Teething guard edging for baby cribs playpens and the like

ABSTRACT

Teething guard edging strips are described for application along the top and inside wall portions of the guard rails of babypens, playpens and the like, to prevent biting of the paint and wood of such guard rails. Extruded strips of a comparatively soft synthetic plastic material are formed in the cross-sectional shape of an inverted L to completely cover the top and inside surfaces of a painted wood rail. A coextensive web portion extending perpendicularly inwardly from a central portion along the top-covering portion of the strip, and having sawtooth serrated sidewalls, is provided for interfitting securement in a cooperative slot provided centrally along the top of the painted wood rail to which the teething guard edging strip is applied.

United States Patent [72] Inventor Peter .I. Paulison 91 Jacksonville Road, Pequannock I Township, NJ. 07440 21 Appl. No. 70,659 [22] Filed Sept. 9, 1970 [45] Patented Dec. 14, 19711 [54] TEETi-IING GUARD EDGING FOR BABY CRIBS,

PLAYPENS, AND THE LIKE ll Claim, 5 Drawing H33.

[52] US. Cl Mil/345.11, 5/93, 5/100 [5|] Int. Cl A47b 97/00, A47d 7/00 [50] Field of Search 5/93, 100; 248/345. I

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,636,189 4/1953 Feldman 5/93 R 3,358,725 12/1967 Bussard et al 248/345.l 2,889,560 6/1959 Carman 5/93 R FOREIGN PATENTS 325,790 ll/I957 Switzerland 248/345.l

Primary Examiner-Casmir A. Nunberg Attorney-James J. Cannon ABSTRACT: Teething guard edging strips are described for application along the top and inside wall portions of the guard rails of babypens, playpens and the like, to prevent biting of the paint and wood of such guard rails. Extruded strips of a comparatively soft synthetic plastic material are formed in the cross-sectional shape of an inverted L to completely cover the top and inside surfaces of a painted wood rail. A coextensive web portion extending perpendicularly inwardly from a central portion along the top-covering portion of the strip, and having sawtooth serrated sidewalls, is provided for interfitting securement in a cooperative slot provided centrally along the top of the painted wood rail to which the teething guard edging strip is applied.

TEETHING GUARD EDGING FOR BABY CRIBS, PLAYPIENS, AND THE LIKE This invention relates to baby cribs, playpens and the like articles of infant or juvenile furniture, and is directed particularly to improvements in edging strips applied as teething guards along wooden rail portions of such furniture to afford protection against biting.

The use of edging strips of substantially L-shaped cross-sectional configuration applied along the upper edge portions of wooden cribs, playpens and the like to afford protection against teething or biting is known. Such edging strips as have heretofore been devised, however, are deficient in many respects, principally in that they are attached by having opposed, downwardly extending side portions stressed to resiliently grip and clamp upon opposed marginal side portions of the rail member protected. As so attached, they are maintained in place either by friction grip, or by friction grip along with other attaching means such as wood screws, cement, or slots in each side of the rail in which opposed edge portions of the downwardly and inwardly extending side portions of the strip seat. Because of the necessity for such edging strips being fairly stiff in their gripping action, they are made of a substantially rigid material, usually extrusions of a comparatively hard synthetic plastic material. Accordingly, a major disadvantage of such guard strips is that they can not be bent along their lengths, and therefore cannot be used to cover curbed or arcuate rail portions commonly found in head and foot sections of cribs. Yet another disadvantage of such edging strips heretofore known is that they do not extend downwardly far enough along the inner side walls of the rails covered to prevent a teething child biting under the lower inner edge of the guard and into the paint and wood.

It is, accordingly, a principal object of this invention to provide a novel and improved crib edging or teething guard of the character above described that obviates the deficiencies of such edging as has heretofore been devised.

Another object of the invention is to provide a teething guard edging of the above nature which not only completely covers the top and inside rail portions of the wood rail along which it is affixed but which also is fabricated of a comparatively nontoxic and soft synthetic plastic material, such as polyethylene. Thus, not only will biting directly into the wood either along the top or the inside of the rail be prevented, but the guard strip will give" or resiliently indent under biting action, thereby tending to minimize any damage to the childs teeth during biting.

Still another object of the invention is to provide an edging strip of the above nature which, because of its method of attachment and the relative resiliency of the material of which it is fabricated, can readily be bent to follow the contour of curbed edge rails such as are commonly found on the head and foot end sections of baby cribs.

A more particular object of the invention is to provide a teething guard rail of the character described which is generally in the cross-sectional shape of an inverted L the upper and side arm portions of which are of such length as is the width and height of the wood rail to be covered, and which includes an attachment web portion extending centrally downwardly from the top leg and coextensive along the length of the guard rail, which attachment web portion is serrated along its length at each side and adapted to be interfittingly secured in a complemental slot formed centrally along the top of the wooden rail to which the strip is to be attached.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a teething guard rail for baby or juvenile cribs, playpens and the like which will be simple in construction, economical in cost, easy to apply, and attractive and long wearing in use, and easily replaceable.

Other objects features and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following description when read with reference to the accompanying drawings. In the drawings, wherein like reference numerals denote corresponding pans throughout the several views:

FIG. I is an oblique view, as seen from above, of a fragmentary inside upper corner portion of a baby crib equipped with teething guard edging strips embodying the invention;

FIG. 2 is a vertical cross-sectional view taken along the line 2-2 of FIG. 1 in the direction of the arrows;

FIG. 3 is a vertical cross-sectional view taken along the line 3-3 of FIG. l in the direction of the arrows;

FIG. 4 is a vertical cross-sectional view similar to that of FIGS. 2 & 3 but illustrating a modification of the invention in the form of a teething bar; and

FIG. 5 is a vertical cross-sectional view of a crib side rail similar to that of FIG. 4, illustrating still another modification of the invention in the form of a combination rail guard and teething bar.

Referring now in detail to the drawing and considering the first form of the invention illustrated in FIGS. ll, 2 and 3, FIG. 1 illustrates, partially, a baby crib comprising a wood side rail S and a back or head section 8 having a curved upper rail R, also of wood, to which edging strips embodying the invention, designated generally by reference numeral 10, are applied. As illustrated in FIG. 2, the edging strip it), which is preferably of a tough, flexible, nontoxic synthetic plastic material such as polyethylene, is of inverted L cross-sectional configuration. The edging strip 10 is thus formed with a vertical sidewall portion 11, a horizontal top wall portion 112. The inside or underside of the top wall portion 12 has, centrally disposed there along, a web portion 14, and which is formed along each side with saw tooth serrations 15, for the purpose hereinafter appearing.

As further illustrated in FIG. 2, the side rail 5 is provided along the top thereof with a central, coextensive slot 16 of such width and depth as to snugly receive press-fitted therein the web portion 14 of the edging strip 10. As illustrated, the width and height of the respective horizontal and vertical top and sidewall portions 112, ll of the edging strip 10 is such that they completely cover, in face-to-face interfitting engagement, the top and inside surfaces of the crib rail S to which they are applied. Preferably, the width of the rail slot 16 will be slightly less than the maximum thickness of the edging strip web portion 14, so that the teeth defined by the saw tooth serrations IS will be jammed against the insides of said slot to securely maintain the edging in assembled relation with respect to the wood rail. As additional securing means, the side and top wall portions ll, 12 or the edging strip 10 can be cemented to the top and side surface portions of the side rail S by the use of a suitable adhesive.

As illustrated in FIG. 1, the edging strip 10, being extruded of a comparatively soft synthetic plastic material such as polyethylene, can be shaped along its length to fit along a curved upper rail R such as is commonly provided along the upper edge of the back section B of a baby crib for decorative purposes (see FIGS. 1 and 3). FIG. 4 illustrates a modification of the invention, designated generally by reference numeral 10 0, wherein the end and side rail S of a crib or baby bed is provided with a guard rail G extending in spaced, parallel relation, thereto, somewhat to the inside and somewhat above said rail, which guard rail is covered by a thick sleeve of an extruded synthetic plastic material such as polyethylene. As illustrated in FIG. 4, the guard rail G can be secured in place at each end as by machine screws W. The embodiment of the invention illustrated in FIG. 4 is particularly well suited to the modification of the existing baby cribs or the like wherein it is desired to prevent biting of the wood and paint of unprotected rails.

FIG. 5 illustrates still another modification of the invention, designated by reference numeral 10d, wherein the guard rail is integrally formed along its length with .a vertical side wall portion 18, and a comparatively short, inwardly and upwardly extending portion 19 the outer edge of which merges into a longitudinally extending substantially circular knob portion 20. As illustrated in FIG. 5, the outer surface of the vertical side wall portion 18 is cemented or otherwise affixed against the inner sidewall of the wood side rail S of the baby crib to which it is applied, so that the rounded knob portion 20 is disposed in spaced parallel relation above and to the inside with respect to the upper inner corner of said rail. As so positioned, biting access to wood portions of the rail is blocked, and a child in the crib will instead bite on the relatively soft and nontoxic knob portion 20 formed along the guard strip [b, said guard rail along the sides and ends.

The principal advantage of teething guard edging or strips embodying the invention is that they are designed so as to completely cover or otherwise block access to painted wood top rail portions of baby cribs, juvenile beds, playpens, and the like juvenile furniture, thereby preventing a teething child from biting into the paint and wood of such rails. The elimination of such biting not only prevents damage to the furniture, but, even more importantly, prevents a small child from swallowing paint chips and wood fragments which, not infrequently, are toxic and irritating to the digestive system.

Another advantage of the teething guard edging strips embodying the invention resides in the fact that, because of their comparative flexibility, they can be applied to rails that are curved along their length simply by the use of a pressure sensitive adhesive.

While I have illustrated and described herein only three forms in which the invention can conveniently be embodied in practice, it is to be understood that these forms are presented by way of example only and not in a limiting sense. The invention in brief, comprises all the embodiments and modification coming within the scope and spirit of the following claims.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent 1. A teething guard rail for baby cribs, playpens and the like comprising, in combination, an elongated, extruded member of uniform cross-sectional configuration along its length as defined by angular and relatively long strip arm portions, each of said arm portions being integrally formed with an upwardly extending web portion, said web portion being disposed along the length of said am portion, said guard rails comprising a thick sleeve of an extruded resilient synthetic plastic material, side rails including means for attaching said guard rails to the side rails, and to the back and front sections of said crib, said guard rails being extended in spaced parallel relation to said side rails, back and front sections of said crib and being slightly above said side rails and the front and back ends and being replaceable, to prevent the biting of a child of said side rails and said front and back sections of said crib.

k i l l t 

1. A teething guard rail for baby cribs, playpens and the like comprising, in combination, an elongated, extruded member of uniform cross-sectional configuration along its length as defined by angular and relatively long strip arm portions, each of said arm portions being integrally formed with an upwardly extending web portion, said web portion being disposed along the length of said arm portion, said guard rails comprising a thick sleeve of an extruded resilient synthetic plastic material, sIde rails including means for attaching said guard rails to the side rails, and to the back and front sections of said crib, said guard rails being extended in spaced parallel relation to said side rails, back and front sections of said crib and being slightly above said side rails and the front and back ends and being replaceable, to prevent the biting of a child of said side rails and said front and back sections of said crib. 